This paper is concerned with an optimum design study of containerships in preliminary stage by applying economic criteria. The Net Present Value Index (NPVI) and the Required Freight Rate(RFR) are used as measures of merit. Hooke & Jeeves direct search method and External Penalty Function method of Sequential Unconstrained Minimization Techniques(SUMT) are used for solving constrained nonlinear optimization problem. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to investigate the effect on the optimum solution due to change of values in some parameters such as crane capacity, load factor, oil price, ship speed and the ratio between loaded FEU and TEU.